The man who tried to flee his Tullamarine quarantine hotel in Melbourne on Saturday claims he shouldn’t be in hotel quarantine because he’s a Victorian resident who returned on time and his escape bid was driven by his anxiety.
Police detained John-Lee Berridge in front of the Holiday Inn hotel, which is close to Melbourne Airport, after he left his room without permission at 2.45pm on Saturday. Victorian residents who had been in the “red zones” of the northern beaches were given an extra 24 hours than NSW residents on December 21 to return home, and they were allowed to quarantine for 14 days in their homes rather than in hotel quarantine.
The 24-year-old told 3AW on Sunday morning that his anxiety ramped up after six days in hotel quarantine at the Holiday Inn, where he claims authorised officers told him he’d soon be released. He is now facing a $19,000 fine for breaching hotel quarantine.
“I know it was wrong … But I had told the medical staff, my anxiety is going to take over and I can’t control myself, and I’m just going to go out and try to leave until I’m forcibly stopped,” he said. “There was a rule then that me, or any one returning to any Victorian address, could come home.
“They need to understand I was told and informed I could self isolate, but when I got here they sent me straight to mandatory quarantine.
Mr Berridge has now been moved to a complex care hotel in Melbourne’s CBD, for people who need clinical supervision and medical support.
When he exited the hotel, he was met by four officers that stopped him from going any further.
“Then ten minutes down the track, 20 officers surrounded me,” he said.
“The only thing that stopped me was a constable who spoke to me one on one. He was speaking to me about the mental side of things and … why I shouldn’t done it. He was the only one that had calmed me down.”
If you or anyone you know needs support call Lifeline on 131 114, or Beyond Blue’s coronavirus mental wellbeing support service on 1800 512 348.
